I learned something new today. Yankees have always made fun of Southerners eating grits. But for the past 100 plus years, many of them have unknowingly started their day with grits. Cornflakes are made from grits. They’re pressed and dried, and have some seasoning on them, but they’re mainly grits, the inner part of a corn kernel. I think someone ought to posthumously grant W. K. Kellogg the title of a Colonel in the Southern Army.See what you learn if by touring Kellogg’s "Cereal City" in Battle Creek, Michigan.
For the record, if you want to eat grits the Southern way, make sure you have the kind you have to cook. Instant grits, like instant oatmeal, is only good when you’re on the trail. At home, take the time to cook ‘em and get some decent to eat. And if you really want something special, after you’re grits are cooked, mix in some sharp cheddar cheese and diced hot peppers and bake.
Sharp cheddar, yes....hot peppers, no. More like bacon :) Remember in the movie My Cousin Vinny when the guy says, 'no self-respecting southerner eats instant grits!' Lol, so true :)
ReplyDeleteAs an English person, grits are not so easy to find.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I've tried them in Atlanta and South Carolina and I don't really think I 'get' them. Maybe the trick is to add all of these other things to them.
I do like the Cracker Barrel stores spread around the south and they also include grits in amongst their various offerings.
Hmm - I need to visit!
rashbre
I love grits (and I'm not even a southern girl!). Butter, salt & pepper, some grated cheese...yum. Now my mouth is watering!
ReplyDeleteI've always been curious about grits. Never knew I've had them before. Thanks for dropping some knowledge on us non-Southerners.
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm born and raised in the South. I'm a Southern Patriot, buy, call me a heathen, I don't like grits all tht much. When I eat them, I eat them with Sugar and Butter. It would be nice to have some plain ice tea.
ReplyDeleteDaydreamer, My Cousin Vinny was classic!
ReplyDeleteRashbre, If you can't find grits, just eat cornflakes! As for Crackerbarrels, you can find in my index my rant about their faux-country.
Dawn, you may not be "southern" but you spent some of your formative years down there--in Florida and the lesser of the Carolinas, didn't you?
V--got to try 'em. Try to find a Shoney's out there, they'll have 'em.
Murf, I'm actually more of an oatmeal guy. Cream of wheat has less taste than plain grits.
Appalachianist: Good to see the army is giving you some freedom! Since I drink unsweeten tea, like folks in New Orleans (One part of the south where they drink it that way), I have no problem up here.
I'm a yankee but I sure love my cheesy jalepeno grits. I have yet to try making them but I think I'm going to have to learn. My trips to the south aren't as often as they used to be these days.
ReplyDeleteCream of wheat = yuck. I call it cream of bleak because the world would have to pretty bleak for me to want to eat a bowl of that stuff. I'd rather go hungry.
Damn, and all this time I thought I was a good Yankee! Its hard when all your self perceptions on crushed on the anvil of reality, along witht the corn flakies
ReplyDeleteMurf - You can add V8 to the same category as cream of bleak!
ReplyDeleteEd, the cheese and peppers (and bacon if you like) do make grits okay to eat... As a kid, my mother would cook an egg over easy, mix it in with her grits and pour coffee over it and eat it with toast... That's how I started drinking coffee so young.
ReplyDeleteMallory, sorry to shatter your illusions about cornflakes (pressed grits).
Murf, I don't mind Cream of Wheat with milk and honey. And I love V8 juice (almost as much as plain tomato juice).
Ed, you don't know what your missing!
I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteI love grits but I really love mine with sugar and butter......delicious.
haha i didnt know that! and I'm a "yankee" :) thanks for the education!
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor gave me a recipe for grits with garlic cheese and I could eat a bushel of it. YUM! Have you had shrimp and grits? A NC delicacy!
ReplyDeleteYou made me hungry by the end of your post!
ReplyDeleteNever met a grit I didn't like, instant only if you have to. Didn't know grits and cornflakes were first cousins though. Interesting trivia!!
ReplyDeleteDeana--I'd expect a tarheel like to like girts! but I have to admit, I don't put sugar on 'em (nor do I put it in tea).
ReplyDeleteNunzia, Welcome to my site! Educating Yankees is one of my passions.
Kenju, I haven't had grits and shrimp and not only am I from NC, I'm from the coast... I'll have to look up some in August, know anywhere along the SE coast that serves them at way? Or have a recipe?
Tim, my philosophy is if I leave you a little hungry, you'll want to come back!
Pat, welcome to my site. Interesting poetry you write.
Never knew that but will be sure to add that to my ever growing repotire of sorta useful information I can pass on to other people
ReplyDeleteIn other words, this is the kind of thing that I will remember
I like grits but I'm Southern at heart. And can speak Southern well ;-)
I was shocked when I went to John C. Campbell Folk School and they served the grits with brown sugar and raisins, like oatmeal. Can't remember if I tried them that way. Probably not when there was cheese available. I love, love, love cheese grits. Grits are best with savory ingredients - garlic is wonderful. If grits seem too redneck for you, just call them polenta and you'll be with the in crowd. Instant grits are awful and plain grits are a waste of good eatin'. I like yellow grits myself.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what grits are... I'm Canadian! It sounds like cream of wheat, no?
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday! Michele sent me by today.
Neat trivia tidbits.
ReplyDelete